Author's posts
How state manufacturing plant incentives can be frozen
Oklahoma’s attempts to land huge manufacturing plants in the state through the offer of millions of dollars in state incentives have been an up and down ride. Some offers were spurned and others are dependent on whether companies that agreed to locate their manufacturing facilities in the state will eventually meet their promised goals—namely …
Xcel starts work on 550 mile electrical transmission line in eastern Colorado
A large transmission line project with a $1.7 billion price tag is underway across eastern Colorado. Xcel Energy officially launched its Power Pathway Project with a groundbreaking ceremony at a site about nine miles southeast of Fort Morgan. The project will involve 550 miles of new 345-kilovolot transmission lines and four new electrical substations. …
New Mexico to consider request of banning PFAS chemicals in fracking
The state of New Mexico is being asked to ban certain fracking fluids if they contain those PFAS or “forever” chemicals and the Oil Conservation Commission will consider the request. WildEarth Guardians filed the petition in response to a recent report by Physicians for Social Responsibility indicating oil companies used roughly 9,000 pounds of PFAS in …
Attorney General goes after what he calls “climate change crusaders”
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond offered an explanation this week why he joined 18 other Attorneys General in launching a legal challenge to the EPA’s approval of California’s ban of diesel powered big trucks. “Extreme climate change crusaders are willing to do any amount of damage to the fossil fuels industry, regardless of the …
Lucas doubles down on whistleblower retaliation charges against Inspector General
The Inspector General of the U.S. Commerce Department remains in the target zone of Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas as well as a Ranking Democrat on the House Committee chaired by Lucas. California Rep. Zoe Lofgren joined Lucas this week in sending another letter of demand to Peggy Gustafson, asking for documents focusing on their …
Petroleum storage tank rules to be discussed at upcoming meeting in Oklahoma
Oklahoma regulators plan to hold their annual Summer Industry Roundtable Meeting next week regarding the storage of crude oil. The Corporation Commission’s Petroleum Storage Tank Division will hold the meeting on Monday, June 12 at 1 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to continue engagement with industry stakeholders, review areas where improvements can …
Investors to meet with Williams CEO in New York City
After taking part this week in a Reuters Global Energy transition conference, Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong will prepare for yet another conference later this month. He and Chief Financial Officer John Porter will take part in meetings with investors at the 2023 J.P. Morgan Energy, Power & Renewables Conference. It will be …
Protective EV charging station bill becomes law in Oklahoma
An EV charging station bill that received unanimous support from Oklahoma legislators was signed into law this week by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Senate Bill 502 will allow private businesses such as convenience store operators to install their own Electric Vehicle charging stations without having to compete with electric utilities. The bill also prevents utilities …
Energy briefs
** Roaring wildfires burning across Canadian territories have delivered the types of poor air quality that some of the world’s largest, and most polluted, cities face on a daily basis. Smoke plumes from fires burning in the forests of eastern Canada have drifted to cities like Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia, sending them soaring to the …
ConocoPhillips to develop another Alaska oil field
ConocoPhillips, Alaska’s top oil producer, announced it plans to develop the Nuna field, a move that will add a predicted 20,000 barrels of oil to the state’s daily production. The company has held the small field since acquiring it in 2019 from Dallas-based Caelus. Drilling at Nuna is set to begin late next year, …